Geothermal Heating/Cooling

Geothermal heating and cooling is done with heat pumps. Heat pumps operate on the same thermodynamic properties as refrigerators. Using a compressor, condenser, evaporator, refrigerant, and a loop field, a heat pump is able to utilize the constant temperature of the ground for heating and cooling.

In a residential geothermal installation there are 3 main steps to the process. Assessment, loop field installation, and geo-unit installation.

Assessment

The assessment is of the site and it includes the house and its surroundings. We assess the power needs of the house so that we can properly size the unit and the loop field. We also assess the ground around the house to decide where we can place the loop field and what type of loop field can be used.

Loop Field Installation

There are two different types of loop fields, those are horizontal and vertical loop fields. Horizontal fields consist of ditches that the loops lay along the bottom of. These fields can only be placed on sites with a largely unused yard that has at least 5 feet of soil.

Vertical fields, also referred to as bore fields, consist of drilled holes in which the loops are placed and then grouted in. Ditches are then dug to connect the tops of the loops together and then run them into the house.

The loop fields are made of HDPE plastic pipe which is fused together to make one in and one out line. The field is then filled with an anti-freeze solution made of a mixture of propylene glycol and water. The field is then pressure tested for leaks. After the final pressure test the field is then buried.

Geo-Unit Installation

The final step is the installation of the Geothermal heat pump. The heat pump is hooked up to the field and the house heating system. It is connected to a power supply and the thermostat. In a retrofit, the heat pump replaces the existing furnace or boiler.

If you happen to have any more questions regarding geothermal heating and cooling feel free to contact us.